Libellés

Friday, July 30, 2010

Montmartre Sales

I photographed this scene at the Sacré Coeur, the large church on top of Montmartre. During the tourist season (which is basically 365 days per year!) you can see lots of "Vendeurs à la sauvette" (street hawkers) that sell everything from fake Vuitton bags to silly little stuffed puppies like in this photo. Of course this is highly illegal, but the Police cannot chase them every minute and they always have someone on the watch. I must confess it made me feel uncomfortable, because it gives this place a kind of Souq atmosphere which is pretty far from the high-end, sophisticated fashion capital Paris likes to think it is... NEWS FLASH: a bus just fell into the Seine, and an American tourist caught it on "tape".

Very different from the online video I saw of an impromptu musical being performed on the steps of Sacre Coeur. (I'll bet Tall Gary will find it.) I don't remember these merchants being there the day we were there, but this quarter of Paris is very touristy, not the high fashion part of town.

The vendors here and at the Eiffel Tower are so annoying. I can't believe the city of Paris can't really do away with them if they really wanted to. If they can't accomplish this, it will be interesting to see if they can abolish short term apartment leasing.V

Love the contrast of style between this young couple sitting on the bench (who seems rather discret, without trouble), and this young man with the cap, who seems to care a lot about his appearence and is likely to run away in case of emergency. To live rather dangerously does not prevent him from having a social standing in clothes! lol

Eric: have you noticed that your "latest comments rubrique" makes old comments show up for some days instead of the newest?

I think you're right about the atmosphere, i was in Barbes shopping just a few weeks ago. There was a woman in a Sympa shop that left her purse on a rack for a moment while trying something one. An employee of the store yells out (in French), "Mesdames, please watch your purses, there are pickpockets around here and they work very fast"........I thought that was nice.

Interesting idea, Eric. I know it isn't the "best" way to deal with the situation of making a living, but it is better than pickpocketing or stealing, I must admit. Our town is so small that no one would think of doing this here--good grief--we even have regulations about not drawing on the sidewalks with sidewalk chalk!

If, it is a Louis vuitton bags bag - this would added beggarly that she has a affluent aftertaste and a attitude to go for the artist being after afire holes in her pocket. new bags lv Traveler Backpack From 2009 Cruise Collection Since 1997 Marc Jacobs has been appointed as Creative Director of affluence French fashin house, LV Agenda